Giardini Poseidon Terme’s entry fee in 2025 varies by season – expect to pay around €45 per adult for a full-day ticket in peak summer (June-July and August), but only about €38 in the quieter months like April, May, and October. Children 3 years old and under enter for free, while kids aged 4–11 pay roughly half price. If you arrive later in the day, after 1:00 PM, you can opt for a reduced afternoon ticket (typically about €5 cheaper than the full-day rate).
The park is open every day from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM during its season (mid-April through the end of October), with slightly shorter hours in October when it closes around 6:00 PM. Note that you’ll need to leave a €5 refundable deposit for the entry wristband (you get it back when you return the wristband upon exit). We visited on 30 August 2025, and all these details were accurate as of that date.
An Oasis of Wellness by the Sea
Stepping into Giardini Poseidon Terme felt like entering a tropical oasis nestled between the hills and the sea. This expansive thermal park – the largest on Ischia – is set across six hectares of lush terraced gardens overlooking the turquoise Bay of Citara. It was founded in 1959 by a German doctor, Dr. Gernot Walde, who saw the potential of the bay’s natural hot springs. Decades later, Poseidon Gardens has become an iconic wellness retreat where ancient thermal traditions meet modern comforts. We instantly noticed the scent of the sea breeze mingling with the gentle sulfuric steam from the pools, a sensory reminder that these waters are rich in minerals and volcanic heat.
Poseidon Gardens entrance, Forio (Ischia)
Poseidon Gardens terraces above the Bay of Citara
Are you gonna have time to try all 20+ pools in one visit? Probably not, but we certainly gave it a shot, hopping from one pool to the the next in delight. Each pool has a different temperature and setting – one might be a soothing 38°C thermal soak sheltered by rocks and palms, while another is a bracing 15°C plunge that really gets your blood flowing. Poseidon even offers a classic Kneipp therapy pool setup (two adjacent pools, one hot and one cold) where we bravely alternated between steaming and chilling; the tingling rush it gave our legs was surprisingly invigorating.
Kneipp therapy pools, alternating hot and cold
Tucked into the cliffside, we also found a natural steam cave (a grotto sauna) following an old Greco-Roman tradition. Sitting inside that cave, enveloped by warm, mineral-rich vapor, we felt our stress melt away – it was a profound experience, especially for anyone curious about historical spa rituals. In fact, Ischia’s thermal waters have been cherished since ancient Roman times for their healing properties. The spring water at Poseidon is laden with minerals like iodine and bromine, believed to help with everything from arthritis to skin health, so soaking here isn’t just relaxing – it might be therapeutic too.
Steam room session, soothing spa atmosphere
The park is beautifully designed to blend with nature. Stone paths and stairways lead you through tropical flowers, pine groves, and pergolas draped in bougainvillea. Even though there are dozens of pools, the layout creates a sense of discovery at each turn. One moment we were swimming in an Olympic-sized seawater pool with a panoramic view of the sea, and the next we were tucked away in a quiet corner enjoying a bubbling hydro-massage pool under the shade of olive trees. When the heat got to be too much, we simply wandered down to Poseidon’s private beach – a 500-meter stretch of soft sand directly on Citara Bay – and cooled off with a dip in the Mediterranean. Floating in the gentle waves after soaking in hot mineral pools was pure bliss; the contrast of hot and cold, saltwater and spring water, left us feeling completely refreshed. The beach area is fully equipped with sunbeds and the park’s signature raffia umbrellas (we learned these charming umbrellas are hand-made by a local craftsman, a nice touch of island tradition). We loved that everything we needed for a relaxing day was inside the park itself: thermal baths, a clean beach, plenty of lounge chairs, and even a natural waterfall shower we stumbled upon near one of the pool terraces.
Citara Beach, view toward Poseidon Gardens
Practical considerations are well thought out too. Lockers and changing rooms are available and kept very clean, and we saw staff regularly testing the pool temperatures and tidying up throughout the day. Do remember to pack or buy a swim cap – it’s mandatory to wear one in the thermal pools (we forgot ours but picked up two inexpensive caps at the park’s shop by the entrance). We also recommend bringing flip-flops or water shoes because the stone pathways can get hot under the midday sun.
The park is fairly easy to navigate, with gentle ramps in most places despite the hillside setting. In fact, compared to some other thermal parks in Italy, Poseidon is relatively flat and accessible – we even noticed a few pools with special lift chairs to help guests with limited mobility, and we saw visitors in wheelchairs enjoying several areas of the gardens. Children are welcome, but note that kids under 12 aren’t allowed in the hotter thermal pools for safety reasons (our friends who traveled with their 10-year-old learned this at the gate). However, youngsters can still use the cooler seawater pools and the beach, so families were definitely having fun too – we saw a few kids splashing happily in the big swimming pool while parents soaked nearby in a warm thermal tub.
We ended up spending almost an entire day at Poseidon Terme and never ran out of things to do or see. We’d recommend arriving when they open at 9:00 AM if you want to claim a prime sunbed – by late morning in August, the lounge chairs under the shadiest pergolas were mostly taken (we still found two together without much trouble, but earlier is better for choice). Between soaking sessions, we took short rests in the garden areas; one of our favorite spots was a quiet lawn under a carob tree overlooking the sea, where we stretched out with a book for a while and just listened to the breeze.
Lunch was a pleasant surprise: the park has three on-site eateries, so you don’t even need to leave for food. We chose the casual Caffè a Mare, right by the beach, for a light lunch. Sitting in our swimsuits with a view of the bay, we enjoyed a fresh Caprese salad and a cold fruit smoothie – simple, tasty, and just what we needed before dipping into the pools again. For a heartier meal, there’s Il Fauno restaurant offering hot pasta dishes and grilled fish, and for an afternoon treat, the Grotta del Vino wine bar serves local wines with cheese and prosciutto plates. We couldn’t resist splitting a chilled glass of Biancolella (Ischia’s local white wine) at the wine bar as an early evening treat.
By around 6:00 PM, we were thoroughly relaxed (and a bit pruney from all the water). We showered off, changed, and felt completely rejuvenated. Honestly, we didn’t want to leave – Poseidon Gardens offers such a complete experience of relaxation that we understood why some visitors around us were already planning to come back for a second day.
More to Explore Nearby
After our day at Giardini Poseidon Terme, we took advantage of being on Ischia’s west coast to explore a bit more. Just a short drive (or bus ride) away is the town of Forio, which is definitely worth a visit. In Forio’s charming historic center,we wandered the narrow lanes and made our way to the Chiesa del Soccorso – a small whitewashed church perched on a promontory above the sea. We timed our visit for sunset, and it was spectacular: the sun sank into the Mediterranean right behind the little church’s cross, painting the sky orange and pink. We joined a handful of locals and fellow travelers sitting on the stone steps, quietly taking in the view. This spot is one of the most famous sunset viewpoints on the island, and seeing that golden light envelop the church and sea was an unforgettable moment. If you’re in Forio in the late afternoon, we highly recommend stopping by the Chiesa del Soccorso to experience that magical sunset panorama.
Chiesa del Soccorso at sunset, Forio
For a completely different experience nearby, consider visiting the La Mortella Gardens in Forio (about a 15-minute taxi or bus ride from Poseidon). We went the next morning and found it to be the perfect complement to a spa day. La Mortella is a stunning botanical garden originally created by composer William Walton and his wife in the 1950s, filled with exotic plants, winding paths, and serene water features. Wandering through its terraces, we felt like we’d stepped into a tropical jungle curated with a designer’s eye – there were lotus flowers and water lilies in the ponds, towering ferns and palms, and bursts of color from hibiscus and orchids at every turn. There’s even a small museum and the former home of the Waltons tucked within the garden. From the highest viewpoints in La Mortella, we enjoyed a great outlook over Forio and the coastline. It’s easy to spend a couple of hours here, and if you have any interest in gardens or nature, La Mortella should be on your Ischia itinerary. The peaceful atmosphere (with classical music sometimes playing softly in the background) offered a nice, reflective break after the fun and social environment of Poseidon’s pools.
La Mortella Gardens lily pond, serene greenery
When it comes to food and relaxation after Poseidon, there are some tasty options nearby. Right across from Poseidon’s entrance on Citara Beach you’ll find a few casual beachside restaurants and bars. We chose one called La Sirena del Mare, practically next door to the thermal park, for dinner. It offered a laid-back, family-friendly vibe with tables right on the sand. As we ate, we could still hear the waves and see the last light of day fading over the bay. We feasted on spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams) and a perfectly grilled catch of the day – the seafood was extremely fresh, and enjoying it with our feet in the sand was the perfect end to a relaxing day. If you prefer to head into town for more variety, Forio has plenty of restaurants and pizzerias to choose from. On another night, we tried Ristorante Pizzeria La Bella Napoli near Forio’s harbor, which a local had recommended for authentic pizza. It did not disappoint – their wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas were excellent (we loved the classic margherita and a local specialty topped with anchovies), and they also served a delicious grilled fish dish. After dinner, we joined the evening passeggiata (stroll) along Forio’s waterfront and treated ourselves to gelato at a little shop by the harbor, savoring the sweet end to our day while watching fishing boats bob in the twinkling harbor lights.
A few practical tips for your visit: If you’re not staying in Forio, you can easily reach Poseidon Gardens by public transport – the local bus line #2 runs from Ischia Porto (the main port town) to Citara Bay and stops about 100 meters from Poseidon’s entrance. We took the bus on one of our visits and found it convenient (though in peak season it can get crowded, so be prepared for that). If you have a car or scooter, Poseidon has a large parking lot on-site; we parked there for a flat rate of €5 for the day, which was well worth it given how tough street parking can be near the beach. Also, remember that Poseidon is a seasonal attraction (open only from spring to fall), so if you’re visiting Ischia in winter, the thermal park will be closed. As we mentioned earlier, the park does have a couple of small boutiques inside – we browsed one that sold swimwear, sandals, and skincare products made with Ischia’s famous thermal mud, which could be a nice spot to pick up a souvenir or any supplies you might need.
Between our restorative spa day at Poseidon, the scenic wanderings in Forio, and a seaside dinner, we felt like we truly experienced some of the best that Ischia has to offer in just 24 hours.Whether you’re a wellness enthusiast or just looking for a memorable day on the island, a visit to Giardini Poseidon Terme is something we highly recommend – it left us relaxed, recharged, and with a new appreciation for Ischia’s natural beauty.
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